Avoid confusion

April 06, 2003

To the editor:

Stray No More would like to respond to the letter to the editor entitled "Open Door policy" printed on March 31.

In that letter, Sally Urban, president, Humane Society of Somerset County Board of Directors, explained what the definition of an open door policy means at that shelter. We would like to avoid any confusion between the two shelters and what they stand for, by explaining about Stray No More and its policies.

We are currently taking in strays, dogs from the police department, unwanted and unloved dogs and cats. The animals seem to find their way to us no matter what. They are hurt beside the road, wandering about in back yards, stuffed in cardboard boxes.

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Due to our popularity, we do have to place some animals on a short waiting list, BUT we take in all dogs with the exception of biters. (Who would want to adopt out a dog that might kill a child?). With the exception of feral ones, we take all cats. Feral cats are not just little housecats who live outside. They are wild animals. If we brought in one, it would fight to the death with one of our little pampered kitties, and we can't have that.

First, we are a no-kill facility. That means that we have never put any dog or cat down for cage space. We have never looked at an animal without holding hope in our hearts that someday, some way, that little fellow was going to be happy. And so far they all have been. The old, the sick, the hurt. That's where our heart is.

Second, we, like other animal shelters, need a way to defray costs. Money comes too slowly to waste it. We chose to have the people surrendering their animals put their money into their own animals, rather than charging a surrender fee as do other local shelters. Isn't that the right thing to do? Most of the owners relinquishing their dogs or cats offer to get the animal's shots current before we even ask them. They understand that we need our money for the strays. We ask people finding strays to help out by getting shots and making the animal ready for adoption, but if they can't, we do. Last year, our veterinary costs were over $7,000.

Third, our commitment to the animals goes above what is normally expected from any shelter, anywhere. We have taken in Playful, a 9-year- old outside dog with cancer who now travels the United States in an RV with her new owner; 11-year-old Mollie the Collie who lived like a queen until she died in the loving arms of her new owner last month; Ellen, a 16-year-old cat, who plays dress-up with her new little girl - are just a few of the animals that have come our way.

Fourth, whenever someone has been in business for 31 years they should understand that it is hard to have it all as soon as your doors open. We envy their new kennels that were made possible by all of the hard work done by all of their Boards throughout the past 31 years. They are lovely. After 31 years, we hope to have all of the things that they have accumulated through the years. But over the past six years of existence we have paid our dues the same as others in this field. We have operated out of the back of a pet shop, out of a one-car garage, out of a two-car garage, beside a tax preparer. But we're on our way now. Our new place, located beside BiLo in Somerset, is small but, oh boy, is it cute. Volunteers have come from everywhere to help and the public loves the idea that we are a no-kill shelter.

Finally, the advantage of adopting from a shelter like Stray No More that has such close personal care, is that everyone, board members included, are down in the trenches shoveling the poop together. We know every single animal intimately. We know who is good with kids, who is rough on other dogs, who is a notorious cat-hater, who is housetrained and who knows more tricks than David Copperfield. We have adopted out over 200 cats and dogs since we opened our doors at our current address on Nov. 16.

At Stray No More we have a high sense of commitment to our animals. We expect that owners, old and new, care properly for their pets. These animals are living, breathing, beings that look to all of us to provide kindness and loving care, as well as the basic food, water and shelter. Perhaps we hold the people we deal with to be a notch above the normal. But that's okay, because the cream of this community has come to Stray No More over and over - as exceptional adopters, as financial backers, as tireless volunteers, as generous donors, as well as those who are bringing in the little strays and families forced to relinquish their animals.